While not popularly advertised, it is estimated that up to 1000 young people drop out of the yeshiva system each year. These young people find themselves completely turned off from academic learning, which is the core of our educational system and avoid school in various ways. This workshop will explore this phenomena, and discuss approaches that can be taken to help mitigate the suffering of these young people. We will explore various risk factors that are commonly associated with kids dropping out of school, and how we can flag kids at risk before it is too late.
We will then discuss concrete approaches that can be taken to help these young people both while they are in school, as well as after they drop out. We will discuss best practices of alternative schools that successfully give these young people a path towards self-fulfillment, and how these practices can be implemented in our schools. Finally, we will discuss the experience of dropping out and how to best support those who have chosen to leave the system.
https://nefesh.org/workshops/NowWhat/view
FREE WEBINAR
Now What? Charting A Path Forward For Young People Who Have Left School
Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 2:15 PM EDT - 3:45 PM EDT
Presenter: Rabbi Yaakov Mintz, MA and Mrs. Yael Wedeck, MSW
Course Length: 1 Hour & 30 Minutes
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common risk factors and early warning signs associated with school avoidance and dropout among adolescents in the yeshiva system.
- Describe school-based and community-based strategies to support students at risk of academic disengagement.
- Apply practical interventions to help young people who have left school reconnect with education, employment, or community involvement.
This workshop Offers 1.5 Live Interactive Continuing Education Credits
While not popularly advertised, it is estimated that up to 1000 young people drop out of the yeshiva system each year. These young people find themselves completely turned off from academic learning, which is the core of our educational system and avoid school in various ways. This workshop will explore this phenomena, and discuss approaches that can be taken to help mitigate the suffering of these young people. We will explore various risk factors that are commonly associated with kids dropping out of school, and how we can flag kids at risk before it is too late.
We will then discuss concrete approaches that can be taken to help these young people both while they are in school, as well as after they drop out. We will discuss best practices of alternative schools that successfully give these young people a path towards self-fulfillment, and how these practices can be implemented in our schools. Finally, we will discuss the experience of dropping out and how to best support those who have chosen to leave the system.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common risk factors and early warning signs associated with school avoidance and dropout among adolescents in the yeshiva system.
- Describe school-based and community-based strategies to support students at risk of academic disengagement.
- Apply practical interventions to help young people who have left school reconnect with education, employment, or community involvement.
Agenda:
- Introduction to compulsory education and the dropout phenomenon
- A brief history of compulsory education
- National dropout statistics
- What are the causes of students exhibiting academic avoidance
- School-Based Interventions
- Recognizing and addressing adverse childhood experiences
- Building the skills to stay in school
- Personalizing the educational experience
- Group Exercise: Addressing common scenarios of kids at risk of dropping out
- Finding a place for dropouts in the community
- Alternative school placements
- Educational alternatives outside of school
- Job placement
- Community engagement
- Review and Summarize
This presentation is open to:
- Social Workers
- Professional Counselors
- Therapists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Mental Health Practitioners
- Medical Doctors and Other Health Professionals
- Other professionals interacting with populations engaged in mental health based services
- New practitioners who wish to gain enhanced insight surrounding the topic
- Experienced practitioners who seek to increase and expand fundamental knowledge surrounding the subject matter
- Advanced practitioners seeking to review concepts and reinforce practice skills and/or access additional consultation
- Managers seeking to broaden micro and/or macro perspectives
Participants will receive their certificate electronically upon completion of the webinar and course evaluation form.
- NEFESH International, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0116.
- NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0046
- NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for Mental Health Counselor #MHC-0082
- NEFESH International is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0048.
- CE You! is an approved sponsor of the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners for continuing education credits for licensed social workers in Maryland.
CE You! maintains responsibility for this program.